title: Prevalence of hepatitis B virus genotypes in chronic carriers in Santiago, Chile.
abstract: The eight genotypes (designated A-H) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) display distinctive geographical distribution worldwide, with genotypes A, D and F frequently detected in South America. To determine the prevalence of HBV genotypes in Santiago, Chile, 131 samples from chronic carriers were used for PCR amplification, and genotyping was performed by RFLP. The results indicated that genotype F was the most prevalent among HBV carries (84% of the cases), whereas genotypes A, B, C and D were found at a prevalence of 3.8, 3.8, 6.1, and 2.3%, respectively. We discuss these data in the complex scenario of HBV epidemiology.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Gastroenterología, Departamento de Medicina, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Av. Santos Dumont 999, Independencia, Santiago, Chile. mvenegas@redclinicauchile.cl
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venegas
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hurtado
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brahm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D002648:Child; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult